Gulf Disaster

9 years ago

BP Resumes 'Top Kill' Effort

Back to work: BP resumed efforts to pump drilling fluid into the Deepwater Horizon well after efforts were halted earlier due to escaping fluid. The plan was revised on Thursday and BP exec Doug Suttles said the process was stopped to assess its progress and restock vessels with drilling fluid. “The fact that it’s taken more than 24 hours is not a big surprise,” Suttles said. “Nothing has gone wrong or has been unanticipated,” but engineers are battling the upward pressure of escaping oil with only mild success. Government experts now estimate that the oil is leaking at least twice as fast as BP claims, likely making this spill greater than the 1989 Exxon Valdez one.